Fire kindler



July 9, 1935. L. R. RUTHERFORD FIRE KINDLER Filed Oct. 23, 1933 gmwm SR,Wax/jam),

Patented July 9, 1935 UNITED STATES FIRE KINDLER Lewis It. Rutherford,Louisville, Ky.

Application October 23,

Claim.

This invention relates to a fire starter or kindler and one object ofthe invention is to provide a device of this character formed ofmaterials which can be readily ignited and will burn 5 for a suflicientlength of time to insure starting of either a wood or coal fire.

Another object of the invention is to so form the fire starter that whenmade, it will be in the form of a hard block of determined dimensionsconsisting of vegetable fibers saturated with a combustible binder andcompressed to a determined thickness and density. Therefore, only apredetermined quantity of binder will be contained in the compressedblock.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a firestarter which is water proof and will not deteriorate when stored awayor be afiected by atmospheric temperatures during warm weather.

Another object of the invention is to provide the fire starter withpassages of such form that when the block is ignited, air may passthrough the block to aid combustion and flame rapidly spread over theentire surface of the block.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of thischaracter which when lighted in order to start a fire will be completelyconsumed and pass through the grate with ashes of the fire.

Still another object of the invention resides in providing a devicewhich is simple and durable in construction, inexpensive to manufactureand one which will be very efilcient in application to use.

With these and numerous other objects in view, my invention consists inthe novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of partsas will be hereinafter referred to and more particularly pointed out inthe specification and claims.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this application:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved fire starter;

Figure 2 is a section taken along the line 2-2 of Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is a section taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

In describing the invention, I shall refer to the drawing in whichsimilar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughoutthe several views and in which the improved fire starter or kindlerconsists of a block or body I formed of vegetable fibers compressed tothe de- 55 sired shape and density and saturated with a 1933, Serial No.694,859

combustible binder. In the present illustration, this block is squarewhen viewed in top plan and .of approximately five inches along a sideand one-half of an inch thick. It is to be understood, however, that theblock may be of other shapes and dimensions if so desired.

The block is formed of finely divided vegetable fibers which may be woodpulp, paper pulp, corn stalk pulp, sugar cane pulp, free cotton, or anyother vegetable fibers found suitable. In one 10 embodiment of theinvention, pulp is thoroughly saturated with a combustible binder whichis preferably parafiin heated to a melted state and the mass ofsaturated pulp placed in a press and compressed under determinedpressure to form 15 the shaped block. During compression, excess binderwill be expelled and, therefore, the finished block will be ofpredetermined thickness and density and contain a predetermined quantityof binder which becomes hard as it cools and 20 securely binds thefibers together and forms a hard block which is free from dust and willnot soil the hands or clothing of a person handling the fire starters.It should also be noted that the blocks will not crumble and also thatsince 25 the parafiin will not melt under temperatures existing duringhot weather, there will be no danger of fires due to spontaneouscombustion when a number of the starters are stored away by a merchantor user.

Instead of soaking the pulp with parafiin 'before molding it into theblocks, the blocks may be cut from prepared stock of the properthickness and density, such as vegetable fiber-board, and these blocksthen soaked in hot paraflin until 35 they have absorbed all the paraflinthey can take up. In either case, the blocks will only be able to retaina predetermined quantity of paraifin.

The central portion of the block is formed with a pair of slots 2 whichextend between corners 40 of the block in crossed relation to each otherand intersect at the center of the block. These slots are eachapproximately four and one-half inches long and three-sixteenths of aninch wide in the illustrated embodiment, but it is to be understood thatthe dimensions may be varied. The slots may be formed when cutting ormolding the blocks or the blocks first formed and then cut to providethe slots.

By forming the block with the crossed slots ventilation is providedthrough the block to aid combustion when the block is ignited and itshould also be noted that when the fire starter is ignited it can burnalong edges of the slots as well as along side edges of the block andthe 5 -being saturated with a iiame will quickly spread over the entiresurface of the block and result in a large-flame which will effectivelyignite coal, wood or other fuel inastoveorfurnace. 'Iheflrestarteritselfwill be completely consumed and pass through the grate with the ashesand there will be no danger of it clogging the grate and causing it tobe broken when shaken.

While I have shown in the drawing slots 2 cut diagonally into the blockI, which structure is probably preferable, it will be understood that Iam not limited to the diagonal cutting of the slots in the block, andthe same may be cut otherwise with the slots intersection.

From the foregoing description of the construction of my improveddevice, the operation thereof and the method of applying the same to usewill be readily understood. It will be seen that I have provided asimple, inexpensive and efficient means for carrying out the objects ofthe invention. While I have particularly described the elements bestadapted to perform the functions set forth, it is obvious that variouschanges in form, proportion and in the minor details of construction maybe resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any ofthe principles of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. As an article of manufacture. a fire kindler comprising a relativelyflat block formed of vegetable fibers compressed to a predetermineddensity and thickness and having its intermediate portion formed withslots extending through the block and intersecting at substantially thecenter thereof, the ends of said slots terminating short of the edges ofsaid block and said block predetermined quantity of paraiiin.

2. Asanarticleofmanufacture, aflrekindler comprising a relatively flatblock formed of vegetable fibers compressed to a predetermined densityand thickness and having its intermediate portion formed with slotsextending diagonally through the block and intersecting at substantiallythe center thereof, the ends of said slots terminating short of theedges of said block and said block being saturated with a pre determinedquantity of paraffin.

3.Theprocessofmakingafirekindler including the formation of a block ofvegetable fibers compressed to a predetermined thickness and density,punching diagonal and intersecting slots therethrough in a predeterminedrelation to the edges of said block, saturating the slotted block to itscapacity with hot paraflin, and causing the paraiiin to harden in theblock by cooling.

4. The process of making a fire kindler from vegetable-fiber boardconsisting in punching intersecting slots completely through a sectionof said vegetable-fiber board so that the ends of said slots terminateshort of the edges of said board. saturating the slotted board to itscapacity with hot paraflin, and causing the paraflln to harden in theboard by cooling whereby the board is sealed against moisture.

5. Man article of manufacture, a fire kindler comprising a relativelyflat block formed of vegetable fibers compressed to a predetermineddensity and thickness and having its, intermediate portion formed withslots extending through the block and intersectiong at substantially thecenter thereof, the ends of said slots terminating short of the edgesand said block being saturated with a predetermined quantity of meltedinflammable substance. V

- LEWIS R. RUTHERFORD.

